Challenging Colonialism amplifies Indigenous perspectives on issues of concern to native Californian communities. It is our intention to create an educational resource where anyone can hear the perspectives of Indigenous peoples in their own words. It is not our intention to further colonize the narrative, or to misrepresent stories that are not our own. The podcast is produced by Martin Rizzo-Martinez, a Professor & Historian, and Daniel Stonebloom, a public school administrator. Our music is by G. Gonzales, and the logo art ("Chumash Revolt") is by Professor John Jota Leaños.
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In our previous episode we explored an example of collaborative, Tribal centered archaeology in looking at the Amah Mutsun Summer Archaeology Program, which collaborated between the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Archaeology students and professors at the University of Oregon. In this episode we speak with Dr, Kent Lightfoot, recently retired Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught and trained dozens of Archaeologists. Dr. Lightfoo...
In our last season, we explored the problematic colonial roots of the academic fields of Anthropology and Archaeology, "Salvage Anthropology" and legacies of extractive and exploitation of Indigenous communities. In this episode we will share an example of how some contemporary archaeologists are working closely with Tribal members to focus their research on issues that are of interest and helpful for Tribal members. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band has been working closely with Archaeologists over t...
This episode includes an interview with Tony Platt, author of The Scandal of Cal: Land Grabs, White Supremacy, and Miseducation at UC Berkeley. Dr. Platt is the author of thirteen books and 150 essays and articles on race, inequality, and social justice in American history, among them Beyond These Walls: Rethinking Crime and Punishment in the United States ; Bloodlines: Recovering Hitler’s Nuremberg Laws, from Patton’s Trophy to Public Memorial ; and The Child Savers: The Invention of Delinquenc...
This episode includes an interview with Caitlin Keliiaa about her new book, Refusing Settler Domesticity: Native Women's Labor and Resistance in the Bay Area Outing Program . Dr. Keliiaa's study explores the history of young Native women’s lives and experiences as Bay Area domestic workers through the San Francisco Bay Area Outing Program, connected with the Indian Boarding Schools. You can find more on Dr. Keliiaa's work at her website , or follow her on her instagram . You can purchase her boo...
As we resume the Challenging Colonialism podcast after a break, we will be diving into a series of book talks with Indigenous Californian scholars and allies. We are fortunate to be in a time where there are many excellent and important studies being published. We wanted to share these works with our listeners. The first in this series is the new book Indigenizing California Mission Art and Architectur,e, by Dr. Yve Chavez. You can find her work at the following links: Indigenizing California Mi...
Audio from the "We will protect Juristac" event at UC Santa Cruz, hosted by the American Indian Resource Center (AIRC) held on 11/9/24. SPEAKERS: • Valentin Lopez - Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band • Athena Hernandez, Esq. - Tribal Member & Attorney for the Amah Mutsun Land Trust • Alexii Sigona - Tribal Member & Chair of the Lands Committee of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust, PhD Candidate @ UC Berkeley • Julisa Lopez, PhD - Tribal Member & UC Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow @ UC...
The final episode of our 3 part special series explores a variety of ways to show solidarity with Palestine, with a focus on the Indigenous People's Sunrise Gathering at Alcatraz last Fall. We are publishing during escalating police and institutional repression against Palestine solidarity encampments which are spreading rapidly on college and university campuses. Audio editing: Daniel Stonebloom Interviews: Martin Rizzo-Martinez Music: G. Gonzales Sounds recorded at Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony, N...
Part 2 of 3 part series. As a podcast focused on illuminating ongoing colonialism and genocide, we recognize the need to address genocide happening right now in occupied Palestine and to stand in solidarity. Our podcast is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities who are left out of official discourse. As such, it is important to amplify the voices of Palestinians right now, as the mainstream media fails to do so. Part 2 explores LandBack and Right of Return as well as the wa...
This three part series was inspired by the outpouring of solidarity statements and gatherings by Indigenous Californian communities. As a podcast focused on illuminating ongoing colonialism and genocide, we recognize that it is crucial to address the genocide happening right now in occupied Palestine and to stand in solidarity. Our podcast is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities who are frequently left out of official discourse. As such, it is important to amplify the voi...
Our 10th and final episode of Season 2 extends our critique on the history of colonial acquisitions and collections with a focus on the colonial legacies of the institutions of Museums. We focus on the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, recent movements to 'decolonize' museums as with the Museum of Us in San Diego, and discuss whether it is possible to ultimately decolonize these institutions. Speakers: Dr. Amy Lonetree (enrolled citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation), Dr. Alírio Karina, Dr....
Episode 9 explores the ways in which colonialism and colonial collections have impacted the development of archives, and the restrictions of these spaces. We follow the stories of Indigenous scholars who have worked to reclaim Indigenous knowledge, songs, and documents from archival collections. We also explore questions of data sovereignty, digital sovereignty, and intellectual property rights. As discussed throughout Season 2, colonial extraction and collections have resulted in the theft of I...
Episode 8 features an interview with Marion Martinez and her daughter, Veronica, both of whom are members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. They will be speaking about Marion’s great grandmother, Ascencion Solorsano de Cervantes, and mother, Martha Herrerra. Ascencion, who passed away in 1930, was the last fluent Mutsun speaker and one of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band’s beloved ancestors. In 1929, Ascencion spent three months with Ethnographer and linguist John Peabody Harrington, who recorded thous...
Episode 7 [1:37:47] explores the complexities of what is known as Federal Recognition, and the Federal Recognition Process, which relate to Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. This is an extremely complex topic, especially in relation to Native Californian Tribes. Our guests, Dr. Olivia Chilcote (a member of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians), and Dr. Vanessa Esquivido (an enrolled member of the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation, who is also Hupa & Xicana), both have expertise in th...
The final part in this 3-episode series continues our focus on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), where we focus on CalNAGPRA, California’s effort to strengthen NAGPRA, as well as other steps taken to improve and refine this difficult process. But we will also hear about resistance to following through on the promises of NAGPRA as well, and hear a few longer personal narratives than in previous episodes, including all-too-rare success stories of repatriation. As...
Part 2 in this 3-episode series continues our broad focus on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). As always, thank you to the guests who gave their time and shared their stories. This episode includes significant discussion of how ancestral remains, funerary objects, sacred items, and objects of cultural patrimony have been collected in the past, continue to be disturbed in the present, as well as the process of repatriation and reburial. This is an extremely sens...
Part 1 in this 3-episode series focuses on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). As always, thank you to the guests who gave their time and shared their stories. This episode includes significant discussion of how ancestral remains, funerary objects, sacred items, and objects of cultural patrimony have been collected in the past, continue to be disturbed in the present, as well as the process of repatriation and reburial. This is an extremely sensitive topic, but a...
Episode 3 continues and deepens our critique of academia's extractive and complex relationship with Native California by examining the history of one of California’s most renowned and celebrated anthropologists, Alfred L. Kroeber. Kroeber helped establish the school of Anthropology at UC Berkeley, and, up until 2021, his name adorned UC Berkeley’s Kroeber Hall. This episode examines Kroeber & his legacy, the life of a Native man known as Ishi, and the renaming of Kroeber hall, from the persp...
The episode uncovers the complex history of "Salvage Anthropology," an early academic practice driven by the Eurocentric belief that Indigenous communities were destined to disappear. It highlights the collection of cultural artifacts, human remains, and knowledge, often without permission, perpetuating paternalistic views and systemic racism. While critiquing the dehumanizing aspects and underlying colonial assumptions, the discussion also acknowledges the paradoxical role these historical records play today in helping some Indigenous communities reclaim their heritage and strengthen self-determination. The podcast calls for greater collaboration and a shift from object obsession to listening to Indigenous voices.
Season two of Challenging Colonialism explores the damaging legacy of academic studies on Indigenous California, tracing anthropology's origins to illicit acquisitions, grave robbing, and the racist "salvage" ideology that sought to document a supposedly vanishing race. Speakers discuss how this history created distrust, leading Native communities to resist exploitative research and reclaim control over their cultural heritage. The episode emphasizes Indigenous resilience, the value of traditional knowledge, and the ongoing movement towards collaborative, ethical archaeological practices led by Native scholars.
Episode 1 will provide an overview of the themes we’ll cover in Season 2. We’re excited to share what we’ve been learning about anthropology, museum collections, archeology, intellectual property, rematriation, and more. You’ll hear about extractive colonial collections from Native Californians who are Challenging Colonialism in California and beyond.
Challenging Colonialism returns with Season 2 in January 2023. Stay tuned for the release date. This preview includes the voices of: Dr. Brittani Orona (Hupa, Hoopa Valley Tribe) Steven Pratt (Amah Mutsun) Annie Danis Corrina Gould (Lisjan Ohlone) Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy (Hupa, Yurok, Karuk) Gregg Castro (t’rowt’raahl Salinan/Rusein-Ramaytush Ohlone) Alexii Sigona (Amah Mutsun) Kanyon Sayers-Roods (Mutsun Ohlone) Dr. Robin Gray (Ts’msyen) Produced by Martin Rizzo-Martinez & Daniel Stonebloo...
Amah Mutsun Tribal Band member Carolyn Rodriguez and Green Foothills Policy and Advocacy Director Alice Kaufman speak about the urgent need to protect Juristac--and how you can contribute. Challenging Colonialism is produced by myself, Daniel Stonebloom & Martin Rizzo-Martinez. For this episode, Daniel conducted both interviews as well as the audio engineering and editing. All music by G. Gonzales. Introductory framing by Brittini Orona. Follow us on twitter, subscribe, rate and review, and ...
Nichelle Garcia (Winnemem Wintu) talks about the Run 4 Salmon, the 2022 run, its goals and its history. She also discussed inter-tribal solidarity in water and salmon protection, as well as the curriculum and mini-lessons she's contributed to and taught in schools to raise awareness of what's at stake. Challenging Colonialism is produced by Daniel Stonebloom & Martin Rizzo-Martinez. This interview was conducted by Martin, with all audio engineering and editing by Daniel. Introductory framing...
This recording is from the second half of a panel entitled “Telling the Truth of the California Missions,” which was part of the Telling and Teaching the Truth of the California Missions event, held on August 27, 2021, preceding the Mission Bell removal. Moderator Merri Lopez- Keifer (San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians) introduced the speakers. She is Senior Advisor to the Tribal Council San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, and introduced Dr. Lee Panich and his talk titled “Centering Ohlone P...
Beginning in the 1880s, Indian Boarding Schools across the country operated with the stated goal to “kill the Indian and save the man.” These institutions were key to U.S. policies that aimed to assimilate native children by removing ties to their own cultures. This episode examines the history of the Boarding Schools that impacted thousands of Indigenous Californian children, specifically focusing on Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, Stewart Indian School in Reno, and Saint Boniface Indi...
This recording is from the first half of a panel entitled “Telling the Truth of the California Missions,” which was part of the Telling and Teaching the Truth of the California Missions event, held on August 27, 2021, preceding the Mission Bell removal. Moderator Merri Lopez- Keifer (San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians) introduced the speakers. She is Senior Advisor to the Tribal Council San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians. Dr. Stanley Rodriguez and Dr. Bernard Gordillo follow: “Impact of Miss...
In the final part of a four-part episode, we continue to examine the negative environmental and cultural impact of dams, and the Indigenous-led movement to remove them. These dams, deemed as Weapons of Mass Destruction by Chief Caleen Sisk, have devastated Salmon populations and the communities whose histories have been in relationship with Salmon since time immemorial. Part IV ends this extended episode with a story of hope, sharing a ceremony for the return of salmon to Amah Mutsun waters afte...
s01e03 Weapons of Mass Destruction: Removing Dams and Restoring Salmon Dams, deemed Weapons of Mass Destruction by Chief Caleen Sisk, have devastated Salmon populations and the communities whose histories have been in relationship with Salmon since time immemorial. Compiled into one full episode examining the negative environmental and cultural impact of dams, Challenging Colonialism highlights the Indigenous-led movement to remove them. Part I: Dams and Colonization explores the Indigenous-led ...
Part III gives context to the larger California water system--and its boosters, defenders, and profiteers. Interviewees for Part III: Brittani Orona (Hoopa Valley Tribe) Ron Reed (Karuk) Dr. Beth Rose Middleton Manning Sheridan Enomoto Tina Calderon (Gabrieliño-Tongva and Chumash) Joe Calderon (Tongva/Chumash Credits: Audio engineering and editing by Daniel Stonebloom; All interviews conducted and recorded by Martin Rizzo-Martinez; Music written, performed, and recorded by G. Gonzales & Hils...
Part two of a four-part episode outlines dams as a colonial project, and centers Indigenous science in the historical and ongoing indigenous resistance to eco-genocide. Interviewees for s01e03 p. II: Chief Caleen Sisk (Winnemem Wintu) Brittani Orona (Hoopa Valley Tribe) Ron Reed (Karuk) Dr. Beth Rose Middleton Manning Sheridan Enomoto Marc Dadigan & Craig Tucker Credits: Audio engineering and editing by Daniel Stonebloom All interviews conducted and recorded by Martin Rizzo-Martinez Ambient ...
